Today kicks off Blogdramedy’s Summer Writing Challenge: Blogshorts. The theme this year is the Dog Days of Summer. 10 days, 10 dogs (nine of which were famous dog-characters chosen by Blogdramedy as inspiration), each story 110 words. I was a little worried when she mentioned this since I’ve been posting less frequently, but I thought maybe this exercise would force a little discipline on my part.
So excited
Penny, of course, is very excited for the whole affair. First up, Day 1: Cujo
Dog Days of Summers
1
Its approach shielded by rain, it entered the house. And smelled the New One. Like them, but not like them. A curious need welling from within. It wanted to see the New One. Inhale it.
Taste it.
And it was alone.
It closed, water dripping from matted fur. Its massive head lolled as it hovered over the small creature.
Suddenly, he was swatted with a magazine and the Woman hissed, “Cujo! Don’t you DARE wake the baby! Ugh — you’re a mess!”
Then she sighed something about “new tricks” and lifted the creature.
“Would you like to meet Carolyn?”
The New One squirmed and Cujo edged forward, sniffing.
He licked.
Stevil 
Yay!! Happy ending! Cujo lives! Cujo lives!
The real winner in this? Penny. Her picture is priceless.
*sigh* Dare I admit I have tears in my eyes? My stupid love for dogs…
I can’t promise that every ending over the next week or so will be happy, but we’ll see where it goes… :)
Oh — and that was the most tiredest dog I’d ever seen!
One thing I like about the challenge is the different directions everyone runs off in. Somehow I knew your Cujo would kinder and gentler. :)
Shouts — sometimes I can’t help myself.
Aw. A sweet Cujo story. Leave it to a dog lover like you to bring the happy.
And that picture of Penny is cracking me up!
Amy — even beasts have their soft sides. And who doesn’t want to lick babies? Wait.
Yay! Cujo just wants a friend.
Who doesn’t need new friends?
I can tell from this story that Penny is your a-muse-ing inspiration. :)
She was very excited for this challenge!
Aww…that is sweet! I like your ending better, I think.
Hah — I’m really a softie. Sometimes.
Great pic and I love your Cujo much more than Stephen King’s!
He was probably like that, before all the bat bites and the rabies and the evil.
…And yet you still managed to make the story quite creepy. Especially after you revealed the name of the dog. I was worried about the baby for a second. Well, actually, I’m still worried. The end suggests there is more to come.
Well done, sir.
Thanks, HG! I was hoping to be consistent with “either” way throughout the beginning. I’m glad that worked for you. :)
Nice story, Steve. Looking forward to reading the next chapter of Dog Days of Summer. Happy writing!
Thanks Vishy! Nine more to go!
Cujo certainly needed to learn some new tricks.
Better licking than biting, I think. :)
You know, this used to be my greatest fear when my daughter was a baby- (in fact I still deny her her long time wish for a puppy for this very reason – I think I was way too traumatized as a kid when my grandmom was bitten by a stray and had to get dozens of injections. Penny is somehow weakening my resolve.
Penny has that effect on people! :) Like I said on Day-9, it’s never too late!